The Wheel of Time Season 3 Review — A Surprising Leap in Quality

The Wheel of Time — based on the book series by Robert Jordan — is one of Amazon's flagship fantasy projects. The story of the Dragon Reborn, destined to either save or destroy the world, first aired in 2021. Last week, Season 3 wrapped up, and in this article, we explore how the story and characters have evolved — and why the show has finally reached a new level.

Season 3 of The Wheel of Time is, without a doubt, the strongest so far. The main flaws of previous seasons have finally been addressed — something few would have believed possible. The writing has improved significantly, but most importantly, the actors have truly grown into their roles, adding greater depth to their characters. What was once one of the most disappointing fantasy shows is now transforming into one of the most impressive. It’s like Game of Thrones — but in reverse.

The main characters, who were reunited at the end of the previous season, are once again scattered by the first episode, forming several distinct narrative threads. The most important, of course, is the story of Rand al'Thor, who now fully understands his responsibility as the most powerful channeler of all time. Rand travels to the homeland of his people to fulfill an ancient prophecy and raise an army — without which he cannot hope to defeat the Dark One in the final battle.

What sets Rand apart from other "Chosen Ones" is the fear he instills in his allies. Even his closest friends treat the Dragon Reborn like a ticking time bomb. They constantly fear that Rand might "go off" and bring destruction instead of salvation.

Josha Stradowski, who plays Rand, perfectly channels the aura of a half-god burdened by cosmic responsibility. He is no longer the naive youth from Season 1. His demeanor reveals a restrained but unmistakable inner conflict between light and darkness. And despite the shadows within him, the decisions he makes still feel trustworthy — as if the Dragon Reborn knows something neither the audience nor the other characters do.

Moiraine Damodred, portrayed by Rosamund Pike, goes through another major crisis of faith in this season. She’s Rand’s mentor, moral compass, and spiritual anchor — but even a woman of her strength begins to doubt her choices. Nevertheless, she ultimately demonstrates impressive resolve and selflessness, choosing the best course of action against the Dark — even though it brings her potential demise. This adds depth to her character and softens the harsh impression left by some of her earlier, colder decisions. In the end, she does what she must for the greater good.

In fact, nearly all the main characters grow this season — not just Rand and Moiraine. When his people needed him most, Perrin Aybara rose as a capable leader of the Two Rivers. Nynaeve al'Meara finally stopped fearing her own potential. Elayne Trakand came to terms with who controls her destiny. And Egwene al'Vere found the strength to overcome the trauma of the previous season. The characters now have clear goals and motivations, making it much easier to root for them.

That said, Mat Cauthon’s role — one of the core heroes — still feels somewhat undefined. Mat hasn’t quite emerged as a fully independent player in the larger narrative. But his misadventures are still engaging, and actor Dónal Finn brings undeniable charisma to the role.

Despite the huge leap in quality, Season 3 is not without its flaws. The production values, for instance, still raise questions. Amazon is known to invest far less into The Wheel of Time than into The Rings of Power, so don’t expect the same level of visual effects, costumes, or props. Still, it’s hard to ignore the rubbery spears sticking out behind the warrior maidens’ backs. Or the uninspired visual representation of magic — which, given how central it is to the plot, desperately needs more attention.

The writing, too, has a few issues. After Ishamael exits the story, no equally compelling villain takes his place. There’s a noticeable vacuum, which Lanfear and Moghedien try to fill — but they lack Ishamael’s cunning and intelligence. Nor do they pose the same apocalyptic threat, as they’re far weaker than Rand.

Another issue: the writers rely too heavily on fake-out deaths. Multiple characters face seemingly fatal situations — only to be saved at the last moment. In Alanna Mosvani’s case, this happens several times, cheapening the stakes.

Finally, the show still contains minor inconsistencies and illogical moments. For instance, in the season finale, Rand confronts a false Dragon who somehow swayed warriors awaiting the real Dragon’s arrival — despite not even being a channeler. It’s unclear how such a situation could ever have unfolded.

***

Still, the flaws don’t outweigh the fact that Season 3 has put The Wheel of Time on the right path. It's a shame it took this long — but better late than never. Now let’s hope Amazon doesn’t cancel this promising series and instead brings the story to its rightful conclusion.

And what did you think of Season 3? Did the showrunners finally fix the biggest issues? Let us know in the comments.